Jefferson Park Avenue in Charlottesville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Shadow Catcher

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 27, 2014

1. Shadow Catcher Marker

Inscription. At this place, on the site of Catherine Foster's home, this "shadow catcher" links the visible with the unseen even as it pulls the eyes upward to the sky. It creates a shadowy, gridlike outline of the house that once stood at this location.

The meandering paths lead away from the home site across the Fosters' yard to a family and community burial ground.

The Foster dwelling site yielded artifacts like those to the far left that suggest details of family life and livelihood.

The woman in the photo to the left launders outside as the Fosters would have.
Image circa 1900-1901, courtesy of The Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University

Erected by University of Virginia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 38° 1.904′ N, 78° 30.262′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is in Jefferson Park Avenue. Marker is east of Nau Hall and about 200 feet SW of the intersection of Jefferson Park and Brandon Avenues, on the University of Virginia campus. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charlottesville VA 22903, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. History Underfoot (a few steps from this marker); 'Burying' Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); Fernando Símon Bolívar (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Kappa Sigma Fraternity (approx. 0.2 miles away); Claude Moore, M.D. (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Holding Echols (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Edgar Allan Poe (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.

Also see . . . Free Black Registers of Albemarle County Project. (Submitted on March 16, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Shadow Catcher and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 27, 2014

2. Shadow Catcher and Marker

Shadow Catcher Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 27, 2014

3. Shadow Catcher Detail

Photo on Shadow Catcher Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, circa 1900/1901

4. Photo on Shadow Catcher Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 928 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 16, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.